Machine for powdering plates for etching.



No. 800,225. PATENT-ED SEPT. 26,1905. L. E. LEVY.

MACHINE FOR POWDERING PLATES FOR ET'GHING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-15.1904L 5 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

v PATENTED SEPT. 26,1905.

. L. B. LEVY. MACHINE FOR POWDERINGPLATES FOR ETCHING.

N IL U APPLIGATIO I ED A G 15, 1904 5 SHEETS SHEETZ ytueooeo PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

, V Swuonkoz 5' SHEETS-SHEET 3 L, E. LEVY.

MACHINE FOR POWDERING PLATES FOR BTGHING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 15 1904 imam ' No.800',225. PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

L. E. LEVY. MACHINE FOR POWDERING PLATES FOR ETGHING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15. 1904.

5 SHEETSSHBEI 4.

No. 800,225. PATENTED SEPT. ze, 19-05.

L.'E-.LEVY. MACHINE FOR POWDERING PLATES FOR ETOHING.

APPLICATION P ILBD AUG.15,1904.

5 SHEETS-SHEET E,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILOUISIEDWARD LEVY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR POWDERING PLATES FOR ETCHING- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed August 15, 1904:. Serial No. 220,797.

ful machine intended'primarily for placing powdered resists on plates having designs thereonin the production of photomechanical engravings, of which the following is a specification. a

In the production of printing-plates, more particularly that branch of the art appertaining to photo-engraving or photo-etching, the metal plate is prepared by producing thereon a design or designs, the parts of the plate which are not covered by the designbeing.

subjected to a primary etch. In other classes of work the design may be drawn or graved through a ground, after which the plate is etched to produce in the plate the design, Whether in lines, stipples, or indentations. After the designhas beenproduced' in the plate the practice is to manually place etchpowder against the sides or shoulders of the designinthe plate to protect the same against the erosive action of acid used in deepening the design, and as the machine which I have produced places the etch-powder where de sired mechanically [have designated the same as an etch-powderingmachine.

' With a machine made in'accord with my invention a prepared plate is placed on a table and is engaged by a plate-carrier which moves the plate beneath a revolving brush for applying etch-powder upon the face of the plate. The powder-covered plate is next carried beneath traveling powder placing and packing brushes, which successively engage the plate to remove a-portion of the etch-powder, placing and. packing apart of'the powder that remains against one of the sides or shoulders of the depressions, all loose or unpacked particles .of the powder being removed from'the plate by these brushes and by a current of air.

until the. plate has been powdered in four directions, such powdering preparing the plate for etching.

In the accom panyingdrawings, which illustrate one form of machine for carrying the invention into effect, Figure I is a side elevation viewed from the right-hand side of the machine. Fig. II is a side elevation viewed from the left-hand side. Fig. III is a plan view of a portion of the machine. Fig. IV is a plan view of part 'of the machine, the parts above the plane of the top of the frame being removed. Fig. V is a central longitudinal section through the upper portion'of the frames. Fig. VI is a front elevation. Fig. VII is a transverse section through the furnace, the top thereof being shown elevated in dotted lines.

ing air under pressure over and under aplate when on the cooling-table. Fig. IX is a sectional view taken vertically through the airdischarging'cha'mbers. Fig. X includes views of a cam and lever for actuating a belt-shifter. Fig. XI is a vertical longitudinal section taken through the powder-applying, powder-placing, and powder-packing brushes and parts.

adjacent thereto. Fig. XII is a vertical sec- Fig. VIII is a perspective 'viewof the air-receiving chambers for directtion on theline A A of Fig. XI. Fig. XIII I is a detail perspective view of a part of one of the powder placing and packing brushes.

Fig. XIV is adetail perspective showing a .part of the endless plate-carrier. Fig. XV is a detail, partly in section, of one of the powder-applying brushes and its adjusting means; and Fig. XVI is a detail view of the belt-shifting mechanism. 7 r

' T/ze supporting-frame and its top, (see Figs. f I, II, and V.)The main frame is made up of two connected sections 1 and 2, the section 1 having attached thereto a plate-receiving table 3 with transverse openings near its inter-mediate portion, such openings being spanned by grids 4, 5, and 6, consisting of bars and projections, as shown in Figs. IV, V, and XI. Receptacles'7, 8, and 9 aresupported below the openings 4 and 6, and beyond the opening 6 and its receptacle there is a top section 10, having transverse and converging recesses or depressions 11, where they will be engaged by-the brushes which place and pack etch-powder in the design in the plate. 7

The grid .4 comprises transverse bars with beveled upper edges, the bars being positioned rear of the cross-bar farthest from the front to present a straight surface against which the last powder-applying brush may impinge to "remove powder therefrom when the plate has passed beyond the same. The grid. 5 ,has be- IIO low the. plane of the table a transverse pa t i which does not extend entirely across the opening, and above such part there are ribs which span the opening, as shown. The opening above the receptacle 9 is partially spanned by projections which are in line with the longitudinal bars of the other grids, and their adjacent ends'are beveled and rounded to carry the plate over the opening and to separate the hairs of the powder placing and packing brushes when they contact therewith.

The rear section 2 of the frame near its front carries a grating 12, supported to allow for expansion of its bars, and below the grating are maintained perforated pipes 13, which constitute a part of the stove or furnace for melting the etch-powder on the plate where placed by the powder placing and packing brushes. The end portion of the frame 2 beyond the grating 12 maintains a plate-support or cooling-table 14, consisting of a solid portion and longitudinal bars upon which the plate is delivered by the plate-carrier. Between the furnace and cooling-table, below the plane in which the plate is moved, there is one of a pair of spouts or funnels 15,through which air under compression is delivered under the plate to assist in cooling the same.

Both of the side pieces of the frames 1 and 2 are constructed to provide bearings for the several shafts, levers, belt-shifting bars, and gas-supply pipes. The end portions of each of the frames are braced by cross-pieces 16, and the upper portions of the frames have at tached thereto casings for the powder-applying means, the powder placing and packing brushes, the upper portion of the stove or furnace,and the upper spout or funnel through which air is directed over the plate when on the cooling-table.

The plate-camper, (see Figs. I, II, III, and XIV.)--The endless carrier for the plate consists of side chains 17 17, connecting bars or flights 18, having beveled edges and forwardly-projecting studs 19, the ends of the same being shaped to engage the edge and under side of a plate and to avoid angles which unduly wear the hairs of the brushes. The side chains slightly in advance of the bars 18 have projections or lugs 20 to engage triplevers 21 and place out of operation the powder-applying brushes 22 when a plate has been carried past the same.

The side chains of the plate-carrier engage and are driven by sprocket-wheels 23 on a driven shaft 24, the plate-carrier being guided by sprocket-wheels 23, 25, and 25, the carrier being moved from the front end of the plate-receiving table 3 to the front end of the cooling-table and then downward between a pair of brushes 26,-whieh remove from the plate-carrier any powder which may have become attached thereto. The brushes 26 are preferably made of wire and are geared to each other, the shaft of one of the brushes having a pulley for a belt, which passes over a pulley having a gear-wheel 68 in mesh with a gear-wheel on the shaft 70, from which the plate-carrier is driven.

The shaft 24 has attached thereto a worm wheel 27, the teeth thereof engaging a worm on one end of a shaft 28, the other end of such shaft having a spiral gear which meshes with a spiral gear on the shaft, which is driven by a belt 29. The belt 29 is adapted to be shifted from the driving-pulley at) to an idle pulley 31 to stop the operation of the machine when one of the flights 18 reaches a particular point on the plate-receiving table, the point of stoppage of the flight being changeable to suit the size of the plate by varying the position of a trip which releases a belt-shifter The sprockets 25 are carried by a bar 33, having thereon a weight 34, and such bar is connected by rearward-extemling arms to a rock-bar 35, which is journaled to the side frames. The rock-bar has an upward-projecting arm 36, connected by an adjustable rod to a bell-crank lever 37, one end thereof being placed to trip a slide-bar 105, which carries a belt-shifter 32, and thus stop the driving mechanism when undue strain is brought to bear upon the plate-carrier chains. This construction provides means for keeping the chains taut, and in case a plate should be caught in its passage through the machine there will be an innnediate stoppage of the driving mechanism.

T he per 161mwtpp/yim mac/1 (m to, (see Fi XII and XV.)-Etch-powder is first applied evenly over the entire surface of the prepared plate in a manner to fill the depressions which form the design, and to provide the operator with a choice of powders the powder-applying mechanism is duplicated, one being placed out of operation when the other is used. A casing 38, having a hinged cover, is maintained above the openings through the table, below which are the receptacles 7 and 8, such casing inclosing hoppers for etch-powder, each hopper being made up of a fixed section 31) and an adjustable section 40. The sections 35) of the hoppers have rearward and downward extending portions, which overlie the powderapplying brushes to deflect powder into the receptacles, and the adjustable sections have concavities which correspond with the arc of the feed-screw. The adjustable 'sections of the hopper may have a slight rocking movement on pins, and the upper ends are engaged by set-screws, which pass through slots adjacent to the upper edge of the casing. In order to prevent the powder becoming packed in the hoppers; there are present corrugated slides maintained between suitable guides 41. The slides 42 are reciprocated vertically by pins which extend through slots in the sides of the casings, the pins beyond the casing for the hoppers being engaged by one end of links 43, the lower ends of the links being attached to studs, which project from pinions 44, driven by gears 45 on the feed-screws 46,

the latter being journaled to the sides of thelowered concentric with the feed-screws 46 by means of links 52, attached to the shafts of the powder-applying brushes and to eccentrics 53 on rock-shafts 54, which also carry the trip-levers 21, operated by lugs 20 on the chains of the plate-carrier to place the powder-applying brush out of operative position when a plate has passed beyond the same. The rock-shafts 54 are provided on the ends which project beyond the right-hand side of' the frame with handles, and below, but in the path of the handles, are bars having stoppins 55, with which the handles engage to limit the movement of the rock-shafts in one direction, so as to vary the position of the powder-applyingbrushes to suit plates of different thickness or vary thepressure of.

the brushes upon the plate The worm 51 and the teeth of the gears are of such depth that the rolls 22 may be adjusted to properly engage either thick or thin plateswithout.

placing the gears out of mesh. By turning the handle 56 on the shaft 54 upward to the limit of its movement the powder-applying brush will be held at a height where itwill be outof the path of a plate, andiwhen so raised the gear will, be disengaged from the worm 51, rendering the feed-bar and the powder-applying brush idle.

The bars of the grid 4 are on the same plane as the top of the plate-receiving table 3, and when the powder-applying mechanism is in operation and before the plate reaches the same the brush in use will engagea transverse bar of. the grid, which removes the etch-powder therefrom, such powder falling into the receptacle beneath. By clearing the brush of powder I avoid placing an excessive quantity of powder on the part of the plat with which the brush first contacts. I

The gearing for driving the powder-apply (see Figs; XI and XHI.)The powder placing and packing means include a plurality of.

V on the plate.

brushes 57, which are attached to endless chains 58, the sprocket-wheels 59 and the shafts 60 and 61 therefor being mounted in a chamber 62, which is open at its upper portion to communicate with a'chamber 63,'c0n stituting a casing for a fan. The dischargepipe for the fan-casing is connected to the flue of an adjacent furnace, its end beyond whereit enters the flue being reduced in size and turned so thatthe blast from the fan will accelerate the draft in the pipe fromthe furnace, such pipe being connected with the flue of a chimney. The drive-belt for the fan in the casing 63 engages .a pulley 64, the shaft thereof 'carrying'a pinion 65, which meshes with a' gear 66 on a shaft 70, having thereon the drive and loose pulleys 30 and 31. The shaft 7 0 also carries a spiral gear for engagement with a similar gear on the shaft 28. A worm or screw on the shaft 28 engages the gear 27 todrive the plate-carrier. An idle gear 67 meshes with the gears 66 and 69 to drive the shaft 60, the chain belts 58 of the powder placing and packing brushes driving the shaft 61.

The pin or stub shaft which projects from the idle gear 67 carries the connected ends of toggle links or bars, the other ends of the links being in pivotal engagement with shaft 60 and the stub-shaft 70. The shaft 60 may be adjusted both horizontally and vertically by means of slides and set-screws therefor to change the tension of the chains and to alter the pressure and inclination of the brushes Theshaft 60 on the end opposite the gear 69 carries agear-wheel 73 to mesh with an idle gear 74 and drive, a com bined spur'and miter gear 75, the miter-gear meshing with one on the end of the worm 51 to actuate the powder-applying brushes 22 and parts in gear therewith.

The chamber 62 above the entrance and exit openings for the plate has shields 76 and 77, the shield 76 having a semicircular surface substantially concentric with, the shaft 60. The shield 7 7 above the plate-exit opening is formed with a compound curve, its lower end .where the brushes leave the, shield being nearest theshaft 61. The bearings for the shaft 61 are vertically adjustable,.they being connected by links 78 to cams on the rockbar 79, such rock-bar having on the righthand end a handle with a set-screw for engagement with perforations in a segmental plate attached to the frame of the machine. It is desirable to adjust the shaft to and from the plate. to change the pressure of the brushes thereon to suit the character of the work in hand. The sprocket-wheels on the shaft 60 have recesses which admit the links and cross bars of the chains 58, to which the brushes are attached, so as to permit the brushestorock on the sprocket-wheels and assume a, rearward inclination. The brushes before commencing their upward movementengage the end of the shield 76 and are raised thereby from the plate without any substantial change in the inclination of the hairs.

By having the chain belts 58 tight or slack the drag or inclination of the brushes 57 during their movement over the plate may be varied to suit the work in hand, and after the plate has passed beyond the end of the shield 76 the brushes sweep the superfluous powder which is constantly being brushed back on the plate into the receptacle 9 below the end of the shield. The number of brushes carried by the chain belts is such that each of the shields is engaged at the same time by at least one brush, and as the fan is driven when the powder placing and packing brushes are in operation air will be drawn into the chamber through the exit-opening and passing over the plate as it emerges will remove therefrom all loose or unpacked particles of powder, such particles being drawn inward by the draft, which is in an opposite direction from the movement of the plate, so as not to displace the etch-powder which hasbeen packed against the shoulders of the design. The brushes while being carried around are bent back by contact with the inner surface of the segmental plate above the shield 76, and on leaving the plate the hairs being released spring forward, which throws off the powder adhering thereto and separates the hairs, so that the brushes will be effectively cleaned by the blast made by the revolving fan, the removed powder being carried to the fine of the furnace. The opening below the front end of the shield through the grid 5 provides for admission of air to the casing wherein are the brushes, and when the fan is in operation there is a constant upward current of air which carries all loose etch-powder to the fine of the furnace. In practice the plurality of connected and traveling brushes place and pack the etch-powder against the sides or shoulders of the lines or stipples of the design and all unpacked particles are removed before the plate enters the furnace to fuse the powder where it has been packed. The brushes 57 are made of camels hair or hair of a like character, and to the brush-bars there are attached strips 71 of pliable material, as rubber, which may be reinforced by a strip of spring metal 72 of less width than the rubber strip. The reinforcing-strips prevent undue bending of the hairs of the brushes without restraining the separation thereof when they spring from the upper end of the shield.

The furnace, (see Figs. IV, V, and VII.) Beyond the casing for the powder placing and packing mechanism and maintained above a source of heat there is a casing 80, the rear part thereof being attached to the side bars of the main frame of the machine. The rigidly-attached part 81 of the casing has a longitudinal opening, above which is connected a flue 82, which converges upward. The fixed part of the casing below the opening there through has a forward-extending deflectorplate, and to the sides of the fixed casing there is pivoted a cover 83, having depending sides and an end which is open to the line. The cover has attached thereto longitudinal bars which carry plates 84, and at the front there is a deflector maintained in line with one below the flue. The hinged cover has at its forward end a handle, and to the sides there are attached upward and rearward extending arms 85, which are separated to admit of the passage of the fine between the arms. The arms carry a weight which serves to hold the cover at an inclination when it has been raised. The flat top of the cover provides a place whereon to dry or heat plates, and if a greater degree of heat is required the cover may be raised and a plate can be placed directly upon the bars 12. Below the bars 12 and resting on cross-bars supported by the side frames are a number of perforated pipes 13, which constitute the burners, and between such pipes and the gas-supply are. air-mixers of any suitable type. The main gas-supply pipe 87 is connected to the burner-pipes by branch pipes, which are connected to a transverse pipe 88, from which extend pipes having the air-mixers and cut-01f cocks. The by-pass pipe 89 has a cock which when opened permits the furnace to be used independent of the other parts of the machine. There is present a burner or pilot-light 90, and the pipe from the supply-pipe to the burner-pipes has a valve 91, which is opened and closed by a disk 92, having concave faces which alternate with spurs, the spurs being engaged by the teeth of a mutilated gear-wheel 93 on the shaft 94, such shaft being driven from the shaft 2 The mutilated gear-wheel 93 and the disk on the valve-stem bear such relation to each other and tothe other gearing and the plate-carrier that when a plate reaches the rear wall of the chamber (52 gas will be turned on to supply the burner-pipes, and when the plate passes out of the furnace the supply of gas to the burners, except the pilot-light, will be cut off.

The bars 12, which support a plate as it is moved over the burner-pipes or through the furnace, extend beyond the casing, and a plate is delivered therefrom upon the cooling-table. The plate-carrier after placing a plate on the cooling-table moves downward, and when one of the flights reaches a point previously determined. by the operator on the plate-receiving table the parts of the machine which are driven by the shaft are brought to a stop by reason of the driving-belt being moved upon the idle pulley 31.

171/6 plate-cooling warm/is, (see Figs. I, III, and VII.) A rotary blower 95 is connected with the blast spouts or funnels 15 and 97, which direct a blast of air both over and under a plate when the same is on the coolingtable 14. The duct from the casingof the fan.

or blower 951is' constructed to provide two branches for each of the funnels 15 and 97. The funnels carry deflecting-plates of any suitable construction'forthe purpose of dividing the air-currents in the funnels, so that the discharge-fromthe' spouts will be across the entire surface of the plate. The air as it is dis charged through the spouts creates a'suction inth'edirectioh of the discharge, which tends to draw heated air fromythe furnace through the exit-opening for the plate, and to overcome such objection the spouts are provided with inclined deflecting-plates 98 and perforations, so that air striking the inner portion of the plates passes through the perforations ing table.

and makes a back draft, which fully counteracts -the'tendency to draw hot air from the furnace.

The blower is driven by a belt which passes .over a pulley on the shaft99, such shaft having both fixed and idle pulleys. The drivingbelt is'shifted from the idle pulley to. the fixed one by a mechanically-operated beltshifter 100, which is moved at the proper time by a rock-lever 101, actuated'by acam 102 on the shaft 9 1, the blower being placed out of oper ation when a flight or cross-bar of the platecarrier reaches the plate-receiving table.

' The belt-shifting year, (see FigsLI, III, VI, X, and XVI.)-The shaft 94 on its left-hand end has a sprocket-wheel, such sprocket-wheel and the shaft being driven by a chain which engages a smaller sprocket-wheel on the shaft 24. The shaft 94 carries a cam 102 and a mutilated gear-wheel 93, which actuates the disk or Geneva stop-gear on the gas-supplycock 91. The cam 102 on the shaft 94 is engaged by a roller carried by the upper end of a rock-arm 101, its lower end engaging thebelt-shifterlOO to start and stop the blower. On the end of the shaft 94:, at the'right-hand side of the frame, there is adjustably secured a plate or arm 103, to the outer end of which is pivoted a weighted trip 104, the swinging movement of this trip being limited by stop-pins which project from the plate. The trip and the plate to which it is pivoted turns with the shaft, and when the trip contacts with the underside of the bar 105 it will lift said bar to release the notch therein from the bottom of the guid eopening through the frame, so that the bar 1 the cross-bars or flights of the plate-carrier to stop at any desired point on the plate-receiv- The bar 105 has a notch which engages the guide plate or opening through the right-hand side of the frame, the bar being lifted either by the trip 104 or the lever 37, so

to protect.

that the spring 106 will actuate the belt-shifter when the bar is released. The belt-shifter is moved "against the action of the spring by a lever 107, one end being attached to the lefthand end of the "bar .105 and the other end to admit of the same machine being used in applying etch-powder to either coarse and openline-work or to fine half-tone reproductions,

and with such a machine the objectionable features such as are caused by flying particles of powder and fumes from the furnace areavoided and the result of the mechanical ap plication of etch-powder to plates is much.

more uniform than can be accomplished by han i What I claim, and desire to secure'by Let-,

ters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. In a machine for preparing a plate having a design thereon for etching, the combination with a traveling plate-carrier of means adapted to deposit etch-powderjupon a plate, and means adapted to remove a portion of the etch-powder and to place what remains against those portions of the plate which it is desired 2. In a machine nation of a plate-carrier, a hopper for etchpowder, means adapted to deposit etch-powing a design thereon for etching, an endless: plate-carr1er, a hopper, 'rotary means for tak-- ing powder from the hopper and applying the same to the plate, and endless brush-supports having attached thereto a plurality of powder, placing-and packing brushes which engage the" powder has been applied plate after the thereto. 4C. In a machine for the purpose set forth,

a-hopper, a rotary feed-bar at the discharge end-of the hopper, a powder-applying brush which engages the feed-bar,'a traveling platecarrier movable beneath the brush, and means actuated by the plate-carrier for changing the position of the brush.

5. In a machine for powdering plates pre-: .paratory to etching, a'hopper, a rotary and vertically-adjustable brush for applying etchpowder'to the surface of .a plate, a traveling plate-carrier and means actuated by the plate carrier for placing the'powder-applying brush out of action.

6. In a machine for the purpose set forth,

for placing etch-powder against the sides of depressions in aplate. which is capable of being etched, the combithe combination with a table or support and a traveling plate-carrier, of means for applying powder to a plate which is capable of being etched comprising a hopper or powder receptacle, a vibratory stirrer within the hopper, a rotary feed-bar forming a partial closure for the bottom of the hopper and a powder-applying brush maintained in engagement with the feed-bar.

7. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a hopper for etch-powder having means for varying the area of its discharge end, a stirrer maintained within the hopper,a feed-bar which extends across the discharge end of the hopper, powder-applying means movable concentric to the feed-bar and means for carrying a plate beneath the powder-applying means.

8. In a plate-powdering machine, a hopper having means for changing the size of the powder-discharge opening thereof, a circumferentially-recessed feed-bar for taking powder from the hopper, a powder-applying brush which engages the feed-bar, a traveling plateearrier, manually-actuated means connected with the powder-applying brush to bring the same into action and other means actuated by the plate-carrier to place the powder-applying brush out of action.

9. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination with a table and a traveling plate-carrier having plate-engaging bars, of a hopper for powdered resinoid resist, a threaded feed-bar rotatively mounted at the discharge end of the hopper, and a powder-applying brush mounted above the table.

10. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a hopper, a cireumferentially-recessed feed-bar, a powder-applying brush maintained in surface engagement with the feed-bar and means for rotating the brush and feed-bar.

11. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a hopper for etch-powder, a vertically-reciprocatory stirrer within the hopper, a feed-bar maintained across the discharge end of the hopper, a powder-applying brush maintained concentric to the feed-bar, means for actuating simultaneously the powder-applying instrumentalities, a plate-carrier and means for placing the powder-applying instrumentalities out of action when a plate has been carried beyond the powder-applying brush.

12. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a hopper for etch-powder, a feed-bar rotatively mounted in the lower portion-of the hopper, a rotary and vertically-movable powder-applying brush, a rock-bar having eccentries, links connecting the powder-applying brush with the eccentrics and means for turning the rock-bar.

13. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a table having an opening therethrough, a bar which spans the opening, a hopper or receptacle for etch-powder, a feed-bar in the lower portion of the hopper, a powder-applying brush in rotative engagen'ient with the feedbar, and means for lowering the powder-applying brush so that it may engage the bar which spans the opening.

1 1. The combination with a hopper for etchpowder, of a vertically-adjustable powder-ap plying brush, a receptacle maintained below the hopper and means below the brush for engagement therewith, for the purpose of removing etchpowder from the brush.

15. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a table having an opening therethrough, a powder-applying brush positioned above the opening, a receptacle maintained below the opening through the table, a bar which spans the opening to be engaged by the brush and a traveling plate-carrier movable between the brush and the bar, substantially as shown.

16. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a traveling plate-carrier, rotary powder-applying means and rotary powder packing means both driven in an opposite direction to the direction of travel of the plate-carrier.

17. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a plate-carrier comprising side chains which are connected by transverse bars having forward-projecting plate-engaging lingers, a rotary powder-applying brush and a plurality of pmvder-packing brushes the direction of movement of the brushes being opposite to the direction of travel of the plate-carrier.

18. The combination with means for applying etch-powder to a plate having a design thereon, of a plate-carrier and means mounted to engage both sides of the carrier and clean the same.

19. In a machine for the purpose set forth, an endless traveling plate-carrier, a pair of rotary brushes in gear with each other and mounted to admit of the passage of the platecarrier between the brushes.

20. In a machine for the purpose set forth, powder-applying, powder-packing and powder-fusing means, a platecarrier movable beneath the powder-placing means and through the powder-fusing means, and rotary brushes which engage both sides of the plate-carrier.

21. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a traveling plate-carrier, rotary means for covering a plate with etch-powder, a plurality of powder placing and packing brushes mounted on endless supports and means for moving the plate-carrier in a direction opposite to the movement of the powdcr-applying means.

22. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a plate-carrier, apowder placing and packing brush mounted so the hairs thereof will be inclined by contact with the plate, and fixed means in the path of the brush with which the hairs contact in leaving the plate.

23. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a plate-carrier, means above the plate-carrier for applying powder upon a plate, endless I packing means. I

brush-supports,a plurality of brushes attached to the brush-supports and positioned to successively engage the powdered plate. 7

24. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a plate-carrier, means for applying powder upon the surface of a plate, traveling powder placing and packing brushes, a casing for the brushesandafan, substantially as shown.

25. In a machine for the purpose set forth, powder placingand packing brushes, a casing therefor, curved plates or shields maintained in the casing and in the path of the brushes, and a fan for creating an outgoing blast of air from the casing.

26. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a traveling plate-carrier, means for applying;

placing and packing powder upon a plate,

and means for producing a draft of air over the plate as it is moved beyond the powder placing and packing means.

27. In a machine for the purpose set forth,

.a powder-applying brush, powderplacing and etch-powder-thereon is carried, a plurality ofconnected brushes for placing and packing the requisite quantity of etch-powder on the plate, and means for removing loose or unpacked particles of etch powder from the plate.

29. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a traveling plate-carrier, a hopper for etch-powder above the carrier, means for applying etch-powder upon a plate as it is moved beneath the hopper, a chamber into which the powder-covered plate is carried, a plurality of connected brushes within the chamber for placing and packing etchpowder on the plate, and means for producing a draft of air over the plate after it has passed beyond the path of the powder placing and packing brushes.

30. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a table,-a traveling platecarrier movable over a part of the table, means for applying and packing etch-powder against the sides of the design in the plate while the plate is in motion and means for removing unpacked particles of powder from the plate after it has been carried beyond the powder- 31. In a machine for placing etch-powder againstthe sides of depressions or indentations of a design in a plate to prepare the same for deepening the design by etching the unprotected parts thereof, the combination of a table, an endless plate-carrier which travels over a part of the table and through an openetch-poW-der against the sides of the design in the plate while in motion, and means for producing a draft of air upon the plate-in a direction opposite to the movement of the plate.

32. In a machine for placing mechanically a powdered resinoid resist against the sides of a design in or on a plate which is capable'of being etched, the'com bination of means adapted to place the resist upon and in the design,

ing therein, means for applying and packing means adapted to pack the resist against those parts of the design :which it is desired to protect, and means for producing a draft of air upon the powdered surface of the plate to remove therefrom such particles of the resist as have not been packed against those parts of the design which it isdesired to protect whensubjected to the act-ion of an erodent.

33.-The combination of powder-applying, powder-packing and powder-fusing instrument-alities arranged in operative succession. 34. 'In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of powder-placing, powderpacking, plate-clearing and plate-heating in-. strumentalities.-

35. 'The combination of powder-applying, powder-packing, powder-fusing and" platecooling instrumentalities arranged in operative succession, for the purpose set forth.

36. In a machinefor the purpose set forth. the combination of powder-placing, powderpacking, plate-clearing, plate-heating and plate-cooling instrumentalities, substantially as shown.

37 In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination with plate-supporting, platemoving and plate-powderinginstrumentalities of plate-heating means the source of heat being below the plane of'action of the platepowdering means.

38. In combination with a table, a plate-carrier, plate-powdering means, an opening throughthe table spanned by plate-supporting bars, a source of heat below the bars and a casing above the source of heat.

plate supporting bars, a casing above the opening through the table, a hinged cover for the casing and a fine for the casing.

40. In amachine for preparing metal plates for etching, the combination of meansfor applying a powdered resinoid resist upon the a face of a plate, means for removing a part of the resist therefrom and means for fusing the remaining portionof the resist which is left in the design on the plate.

41. In a machine for preparing a plate for hopper for etch-powder, means for applying powder from the hopper upon the surface of the plate, powder-placing brushes which engage the plate as moved by the carrier and means for fusing the powder where placed by the brushes.

42. In a machine for preparing a plate for etching, the combination of an endless platecarrier, a hopper above the plate-carrier for a powdered resist, means for applying the resist from the hopper to an etchable plate, brushes in the path of the plate, a casing for said brushes having an opening which serves as an air-inlet and as an exit-opening for the plate, means for causing a blast of air over the plate, a furnace through which the plate is carried after being subjected to the airblast, and means beyond the furnace for accelerating the cooling of the plate.

43. In combination with plate-powdering brushes, a fan and'a casing over the brushes and fan, of plate-heating means, a casing over the heating means, and connected exit-pipes from the casings, whereby the powder that is taken from the plate and brushes is carried into the exit-pipe of the casing for the heating means.

44. In amachine for preparing a plate having thereon a design for etching, the combination with means for placing etch-powder upon the plate, of an endless plate-carrier, a furnace, a fuel-supply cock for the furnace, actuating means for the plate-carrier and the cock in gear with each other and so timed that the fuel-supply will be on when a plate moved by the plate-carrier enters the furnace and will be turned off when the plate leaves the furnace.

45. A stand or table constructed to provide for the travel of a plate-carrier above a major portion of the same, platepowdering and plate-heating means supported by the table, an opening through the table for the passage of the plate-carrier, and plate-supporting ribs on that part of the table beyond the opening for the plate-carrier.

46. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination with means for fusing etcl powder upon a plate, of a plate-receiving table having plate-supporting ribs which project above the plane of the top of the table, a blower, and air-directing means in communication with the blower and positioned at one end of the plate-receiving table.

47. In combination with means for applying and placing etch-powder on a plate, an endless plate-carrier, a furnace through which the plate-carrier passes, a plate-receiving table,blast-spouts with air-discharge openings for directing currents of air toward the platereceiving table and in a lesser quantity toward the furnace.

48. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination with means for applying etch-powder to the face of a plate, of a plateheating furnace, a plate receiving table,

blast-spouts with discharge ends which direct air toward the plate-receiving table and on the opposite sides of the spouts from the discharge ends toward the furnace, deflectorplates earried by the spouts, perforations through the blast-spouts adjacent to the deflector-plates and a blower in communication with the blast-spouts.

49. In a machine for the purpose set forth, an endless plate-carrier, a casing above the carrier having therein two hoppers, powderapplying means for each hopper and gearing therefor, a worm with which gears of each of the powder-applying means engage,and means for disengaging the gears of the powder-applying means from the actuating-worm thereof. A

50. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of powder-applying means and plate-heating means, a shaft in gear with driving means, an endless plate-carrier, a mutilated gear which engages a gear to turn a gas-supply cock, and a trip on the shaft to engage and release a belt-shifter to place the drive-belt on an idle pulley.

51. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination with powder-app]ying mechanism, of a traveling plate-carrier, adrivingshaft in gear with the plate-carrier, a driven shaft having an arm which is adjustably secured thereto, a trip carried by the arm, a latch-bar adapted to be moved in the path of the trip and a belt-shifter carried by the latchbar.

52. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination with means for applying etchpowder upon a plate, of an endless plate-earrier, a driven shaft in gear with the driveshaft of the endless plate-carrier, an arm adjustably secured to the driven shaft and provided with stop-pins, a trip pivoted to the arm and movable between the pins, a latch-bar spring-actuated in one direction, belt-engaging means on the latch-bar, a hand-lever for moving the latch-bar in engagement with its catch and means for releasing the latch-bar actuated by the plate-carrier.

In a machine for the purpose set forth, a table having openings therethrough, powderapplying brushes positioned above the openings through the table, receptacles maintained below the openings, bars which span theopenings and are adapted to be engaged by the powder applying brushes, and an endless plate-carrier movable between the brushes and the table and its bars.

54. In a machine for the purpose set forth, driving mechanism actuating a plate-carrier, powder-applying rolls and brushes, a shaft having thereon a mutilated gear-wheel for intermittently turning a gas-supply cock, a furnace; the gas-supply being admitted to the burners thereof when a plate enters the same and cut oil when the plate passes out of the furnaceya belt-shifter attached to a springmovementimpartedthereto by its spring when 1 actuated latch-bar, a trip in engagement with released from its restrainingcatc the shaft carrying the. mutilated gear-wheel In testimony whereofIhave signed my name for releasing the latch-bar when the plate-ento this specification in the presence of two sub- 5 gaging bar of the plate-carrier reaches the scribing witnesses.

plate-receiving table, a second trip for the LOUIS EDWARD LEVY. latch-bar operated by the plate-carrierwhen Witnesses:

its travel is unduly resisted, and means for V WM. LESLIEVSNIDER, Jr.,

manually movingthe latch-bar against the ROBERT C. SEDIG. 

